Actress Taryn Manning has dismissed reports she violated a restraining order to stay away from a former friend, insisting she is not facing any charges.
The Orange Is The New Black star was ordered to stay away from Jeanine Heller in July (14), but on Wednesday (19Nov14), the 36 year old hit headlines following reports suggesting she had been arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages via text and social media, but Manning is adamant she's not in any trouble.
In a series of messages on Twitter.com, she writes, "Oh! That's what happened huh? Id say get ALL the facts correct before any posting @TMZ or tell the whole story. Let's get it right! "There are no charges against me. This is just further harassment. It is troubling that the system can be used to abuse the actual victim".
She continues, "For a phone call and a lot of time on your hands, you too can get a news media outlet to post totally incorrect information!"
In September (14), Heller was arrested for violating the mutual domestic restraining order and bombarding Manning with texts and emails.

Every once in a while a romantic movie will come along that will just tug at everyone's heart strings due to having a great story and actors with excellent chemistry. We decided to compile a list of 16 movies that have all of these ingredients therefore everyone should see them! Take note of the ones you haven't watched for your next movie night.
1. Beyond The Lights (2014)
Relativity Media
The people behind Love &amp; Basketball are back with Beyond The Lights, a love story between a very successful, yet emotionally struggling singer Noni (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and a handsome man named Kaz (Nate Parker). Since Love &amp; Basketball was so amazing we are definitely looking forward to this new romance!
2. The Artist (2011)
Paramount Studios
This romantic story is silent but powerful. Watch two performers, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) try to navigate their careers during a time when movies were slowly moving out of the silent movie era.
3. West Side Story (1961)
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This movie tells a great forbidden love story with excellent music and dancing. Although the story is mostly between Maria (Natalie Wood) and Tony (Richard Beymer), Anita (Rita Moreno) steals the show in her scenes.
4. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
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This creative movie tells a story of a young Jamal's (Dev Patel) life through flashbacks as he answers questions on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire." A big part of his past is falling in love with Latika (Freido Pinto).
5. The Fault In Our Stars (2014)
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Prepare yourself emotionally to at least tear up. The story between Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) is heart breaking since they meet in a support group for cancer patients. Together they become each other's support and true love.
6. Sleepless In Seattle (1993)
Columbia Tristar Film
We couldn't leave our girl Meg Ryan from this list! In this film she plays Annie, a woman who falls for a widower (Tom Hanks) when he tells his sad story on the radio. This story is pretty crazy, but some of the greatest movie plots are based on crazy...
7. Grease (1978)
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If you haven't seen Grease yet then what are you doing?! This musical stars Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny (John Travolta), two high school kids who had a summer romance and get into a weird predicament when they end up going to the same school together. It's fun, it's dirty, and so darn catchy!
8. Casablanca (1943)
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This classic will show the beauty of old Hollywood and the reason why Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart will forever be remembered. Their characters cross paths in Africa during World War II and are forced to reflect on their failed relationship.
9. Her (2013)
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What would the future of relationships look like if Siri became a thousand times smarter? This movie answers that question with Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) falling in love with a operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson.
10. Titanic (1997)
Fox Baja Studios
This '90s blockbuster showcases Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet playing two characters who are from two completely different classes, but fall in love on the infamous Titanic ship.
11. Gone With The Wind (1939)
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This classic features a Southern woman named Scarlett (Vivien Leigh) who comes across a blockade runner (Clark Gabel) and have a passionate relationship during the Civil War.
12. Moonstruck (1987)
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This movie is fun and will have you laughing! Moonstruck" shows Loretta Castorini (Cher) getting scandalously close to her fiancé's brother named Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage) while he is away.
13. Lars And The Real Girl (2007)
Metro Goldywn Mayer
Yeah, you might have fallen for Ryan Gosling while watching The Notebook, but it's time to branch out to his other work! In this indie film he plays Lars, a man who orders a doll and has a delusion that she is real and they are dating. The whole town ends up playing along pretending that she's real in order to help Lars.
14. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
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You just can't go wrong with Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper! This duo plays two very dysfunctional characters who cross paths after experiencing tragic endings to their past relationships. You will laugh and be drawn in by their riveting acting and script.
15. Forrest Gump (1994)
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Tom Hanks has quite a few great movies in his resume and this one is certainly one of them. Forrest Gump shows a great portion of one man's life from grade school, college, fighting in a war, and so much more. One person that reappears in his life multiple times is Jenny (Robin Wright).
16. The Princess Bride (1987)
Act III Communications
If you're in the mood for a fairytale then tune into this last pick! The movie has a grandfather (Peter Falk) reading a story to his grandson (Fred Savage) that features a princess (Robin Wright), giants, and so much more.
Do you agree or disagree with our list? Let us know by tweeting us using the Twitter handles below!
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Tlc star Rozonda 'Chilli' Thomas and rapper/actor Romeo Miller have signed up to find love on U.S. reality show The Millionaire Matchmaker. Late model Anna Nicole Smith's ex Larry Birkhead will kick off the new season of the Bravo network's dating programme on 7 December (14) as professional matchmaker Patti Stanger's first celebrity client, and Usher's ex Thomas and hip-hop hunk Miller will take part in the following weeks.
Other participants including gay celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and reality stars Stephanie Pratt and Chris Manzo, while Lindsay Lohan's mother Dina is also rumoured to be looking for love on TV.

As America's Next Top Model's 21st cycle unfolds, we've decided to take a look at previous seasons to see how often Tyra and her ever-changing panel of judges choose the right model. As anyone who has watched the show throughout the years (and the marathons every time they're on TV) knows, the model you spend all season rooting for rarely wins, no matter how much she deserves to.
Cycle 1
WENN/David Livingston
Who Won: Adrianne Curry
Should Have Won: Adrianne Curry
If only Tyra's first season were a sign of things to come. She picked it right. Adrianne had that special blend of being cool, a good model, and reality TV perfection (which is essential for a first season). She went on to become a "star" on Vh1's CelebReality, and we continued to grow up watching the ups and downs of her relationship with a Brady. That sort of contribution to our adolescence is invaluable.
Cycle 2
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Who Won: Yoanna House
Should Have Won: Mercedes Scelba-Shorte
Mercedes was perfect! She was such a great model, she had the cutest personality, and she was owning the competition while suffering with Lupus. Her final photo and her Billie Holiday photo are some of our favorite in ANTM history.
Cycle 3
WENN/Getty Images
Who Won: Eva Pigford
Should Have Won: Toccara Jones, Yaya DaCosta
Eva was okay, but we loved Toccara. She left too soon, and we began to root for Eva. Looking back on this cycle now though, it's hard not to feel like Yaya is sort of like ANTM's Jennifer Hudson -- she lost, but has the best career possibly out of any of the girls.
Cycle 4
Getty Images/Getty Images
Who Won: Naima Mora
Should Have Won: Kahlen Rondot
This is a no brainer. Kahlen was perfect. Naima was a good model, okay, sure. But she was quiet and enigmatic. Kahlen was shy, but adorable and relatable. And, if we're being frank, a far superior model.
Cycle 5
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Who Won: Nicole Linklater
Should Have Won: Bre Scullark (or Nik Pace)
We loved Bre. We still love Bre. She will always be one of our favorites. We rooted for Nik after Bre was eliminated, but Tyra didn't seem to care and picked the annoying and whiny Nicole.
Cycle 6
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Who Won: Danielle (Dani) Evans
Should Have Won: Joanie Dodds
This makes us uncomfortable to say, because we really like both girls here. This was one of the rare instances where we would have been happy regardless of who won. For some reason, we always remember this as the cycle that Joanie won though. Clearly she left the stronger impression (although we'll never forget Dani's photo on top of the elephant, while she was sick).
Cycle 7
WENN
Who Won: CariDee English
Should Have Won: CariDee English
We felt really bad when Melrose lost because she was consistently good. She tried so hard to be perfect. Sure, she wasn't the most likable, but she was undeniably a good model. But CariDee had the whole package. She was likable and could model. We would have been happy if one of the twins won too though (just saying...).
Cycle 8
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Who Won: Jaslene Gonzalez
Should Have Won: Renee Alway
We were rooting for Renee from the very beginning. When she came in third place, we obviously started supporting Jaslene just to prevent the bizarre Natasha from winning. Deep down though, we still feel wronged by Renee's elimination.
Cycle 9
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Who Won: Saleisha Stowers
Should Have Won: Jenah Doucette
We never liked Saleisha. She kind of looked like Rihanna if Rihanna were on Disney. We were never into it. Chantal similarly had sanitized feel to her. Jenah shined as the only normal, likable girl in the cycle. She was a great model too!
Cycle 10
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Who Won: Whitney Thompson
Should Have Won: Anya Kop
This is one that outrages us still. Whitney was unlikable and even the judges thought so for most of the season. She just happened to get farther than any other plus-sized model, so they let her win. Everybody knows that Anya ran that cycle as if she were already a professional. Her photo shoot with Nigel? Her Sprite campaign? And don't even get us started on the injustice of eliminating Tiffani Thiessen-lookalike Katarzyna. How did they pick Whitney?
Cycle 11
WENN
Who Won: McKey Sullivan
Should Have Won: McKey Sullivan
Girl was flawless. She was tall, stunning, poised, and had a lovely personality. Honorable mention to Analeigh Tipton though for doing her thing and having a great career.
Cycle 12
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Who Won: Teyona Anderson
Should Have Won: Allison Harvard
Allison. Our favorite contestant in the history of ANTM. This one hurts. We're not quite ready to talk about it.
Cycle 13
WENN
Who Won: Nicole Fox
Should Have Won: Nicole Fox
We loved Nicole and we loved runner-up Laura Kirkpatrick. Tyra didn't have the chance to mess this cycle up.
Cycle 14
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Who Won: Krista White
Should Have Won: Raina Hein
Raina has been working more than anyone else from this cycle -- we've been seeing her pop up on commercials, and a working model is a successful one. Overall, we didn't really like this cycle.
Cycle 15
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Who Won: Ann Ward
Should Have Won: Kayla Ferrel
First of all, Ann's runway walk was not good. Chelsey and Jane were both good models, but there was something about Kayla that we were consistently drawn to. She somehow looked like a classic beauty, yet edgy and modern. She was fieeeeerce.
Cycle 16
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Who Won: Brittani Kline
Should Have Won: Hannah Jones
Were we the only ones who didn't hate Alexandria? We would have been happy if she won, but instead we were left with Brittani. She was a fine model, but on a personal level, we just stopped liking her after that meltdown in panel. Hannah also reminded us a lot of Analeigh from cycle 12, so we had a soft spot for her.
Cycle 17
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Who Won: Lisa D'Amato
Should Have Won: Allison Harvard
TWICE? REALLY? Allison, who broke our hearts when she was runner-up in cycle 12, admits that it sucks to be runner-up twice. She should have won. Twice. She's the best. We'll never be ready to talk about this.
Cycle 18
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Who Won: Sophie Sumner
Should Have Won: ...Annaliese Dayes? ...Laura LaFrate? Maybe Sophie?
This is one of those cycles that had three great girls at the end. At one point or another, we rooted for all of them to win. We're happy Sophie won because she was a cutie, but we loved Annaliese way more throughout the competition. She was like a Spice Girl and a model all in one.
Cycle 19
WENN/Twitter
Who Won: Laura James
Should Have Won: Leila Goldkuhl
Laura is a fantastic model -- let's just get that out of the way up front. Leila was eliminated, because Tyra rarely makes good decisions, and brought back by the fans who loved her. Clearly she was a fan-favorite and she should have won. Leila was definitely better than runner-up Kiara.
Cycle 20
Twitter/The CW
Who Won: Jourdan Miller
Should Have Won: Renee Bhagwandeen
Our friend texted within the first episode of ANTM 2.0 saying she couldn't stand the girl who was married and divorced at 18. And she never really made us like her more. On the other hand, from the moment Renee was shown in the casting episode, she had our vote. We were gung-ho from the get-go. Sure, Cory and Marvin were fantastic, but personally we're still rooting for the girls.
Will Tyra make the right choice in Cycle 21?

Alberto Reyes/WENN
Lindsay Lohan's younger sister Ali is preparing to launch herself as a country music singer.
Ali Lohan has been attempting to establish herself as a fashion model in recent years, but she is planning a career change and has already held meetings with a number of record labels in Nashville, Tennessee, according to TMZ.com.
Editors of the website report Ali has already been offered a $120,000 (£70,588) contract with one record label, but she is said to be keeping her options open.

DreamWorks
For the bulk of every Rocky and Bullwinkle episode, moose and squirrel would engage in high concept escapades that satirized geopolitics, contemporary cinema, and the very fabrics of the human condition. With all of that to work with, there's no excuse for why the pair and their Soviet nemeses haven't gotten a decent movie adaptation. But the ingenious Mr. Peabody and his faithful boy Sherman are another story, intercut between Rocky and Bullwinkle segments to teach kids brief history lessons and toss in a nearly lethal dose of puns. Their stories and relationship were much simpler, which means that bringing their shtick to the big screen would entail a lot more invention — always risky when you're dealing with precious material.
For the most part, Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman handles the regeneration of its heroes aptly, allowing for emotionally substance in their unique father-son relationship and all the difficulties inherent therein. The story is no subtle metaphor for the difficulties surrounding gay adoption, with society decreeing that a dog, no matter how hyper-intelligent, cannot be a suitable father. The central plot has Peabody hosting a party for a disapproving child services agent and the parents of a young girl with whom 7-year-old Sherman had a schoolyard spat, all in order to prove himself a suitable dad. Of course, the WABAC comes into play when the tots take it for a spin, forcing Peabody to rush to their rescue.
Getting down to personals, we also see the left brain-heavy Peabody struggle with being father Sherman deserves. The bulk of the emotional marks are hit as we learn just how much Peabody cares for Sherman, and just how hard it has been to accept that his only family is growing up and changing.
DreamWorks
But more successful than the new is the film's handling of the old — the material that Peabody and Sherman purists will adore. They travel back in time via the WABAC Machine to Ancient Egypt, the Renaissance, and the Trojan War, and 18th Century France, explaining the cultural backdrop and historical significance of the settings and characters they happen upon, all with that irreverent (but no longer racist) flare that the old cartoons enjoyed. And oh... the puns.
Mr. Peabody &amp; Sherman is a f**king treasure trove of some of the most amazingly bad puns in recent cinema. This effort alone will leave you in awe.
The film does unravel in its final act, bringing the science-fiction of time travel a little too close to the forefront and dropping the ball on a good deal of its emotional groundwork. What seemed to be substantial building blocks do not pay off in the way we might, as scholars of animated family cinema, have anticipated, leaving the movie with an unfinished feeling.
But all in all, it's a bright, compassionate, reasonably educational, and occasionally funny if not altogether worthy tribute to an old favorite. And since we don't have our own WABAC machine to return to a time of regularly scheduled Peabody and Sherman cartoons, this will do okay for now.
If nothing else, it's worth your time for the puns.
3/5
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Former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger is in talks to make her Broadway debut in the revival of Pippin. The pop star would replace Tony award-winning actress Patina Miller as the Leading Player in the story of a young prince who embarks on a dangerous journey to find out the meaning of his life.
A source tells the New York Daily News, "It's a 90% done deal. She is a good singer, a great dancer and an amazing looker. However, most important, she will sell tickets."
Scherzinger previously starred in the Hollywood Bowl production of Rent.
Pippin first appeared on Broadway in 1972 and the revival launched in March (13) and runs into next year (14).

Netflix
The holidays. It's a time of joy, giving, kindness, and time off of work. But all of that free time on your hands can sometimes seem intimidating, and going to see all of the big Oscar contenders in theaters can get pretty expensive, so we've decided to help you out by coming up with a better, less costly use of your time. We're sure there are plenty of television shows that you've been wanting to watch all year, but haven't had the time to check out. So, we've rounded up the best of them to give you a foolproof guide to catching up on television over the holidays. Consider it our gift to you.
The Ones You've "Been Meaning to Get To"With all of the shows currently airing on television, it's understandable that you wouldn't have had time to get to them all. But since you're likely to have some free time over the holidays, why not take the opportunity to catch up on those shows that you've had saved on your DVR for months, the ones you keep hearing your friends talk about, and the ones you want to start watching before they start winning all kinds of awards next month.
Rectify. When it comes to shows that you should be watching but just haven't gotten around to, Rectify is probably at the top of the list. Set in a small town in Georgia, the show picks up after Daniel Holden has been released from prison after spending 19 years on death row, and follows Daniel, his family, and the people who live Paulie as they try and deal with the aftermath of Daniel's release. The show has topped almost every television critic's end-of-the-year list, and has been declared to be a must-see. With only six episodes in the first season, it should be easy to catch up over the holidays - all of the episodes are available on DVD - so that you can finally check it off your list, and start feeling superior to your friends how haven't discovered it yet.
Broadchurch. You may have missed this British drama when it first aired at the end of the summer, but there's no excuse for not catching up on the mystery now. The show aims to portray how the death of a child in a small town affects all of the people living in Broadchurch, and shows both the human aspect of the murder as well as the investigation being performed by the two leading detectives, Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Coleman). If you're looking for a twist on the standard crme procedural, are interested in seeing Tennant take on a completely different role, or were one of the few people truly upset by AMC's decision to cancel The Killing (again), then Broadchurch is the show for you.
House of Cards. Sure, Orange Is the New Black was the runaway hit of the summer, but if there's any show currently streaming online that you haven't gotten around to yet, it's probably House of Cards. Kevin Spacey stars as Francis Underwood, the House Minority Whip, as he schemes, plots, and deals his way through Washington DC. Even if you don't get sucked into the fascinating and addicting world of underhanded politics, it's worth watching House of Cards to see Spacey chew the scenery and mastermind every move the Senate makes. Plus, there's an incredible supporting cast, including Robin Wright as Francis' equally devious wife Claire, Corey Stoll as Peter Russo, the representative who is juggling his position in the House with his numerous addictions, and Kate Mara as the ambitious journalist Zoe Barnes. Trust us, when the second season is released on Netflix on Valentine's Day, you don't want to be the only one out of the loop.
The Ones You Forgot AboutSometimes the best shows on television don't earn dedicated fanbases or win a clean sweep of awards. Sometimes, you pass them by when flipping the channels on the way to something else. Well, allow us to point out a few of those smaller shows that are a much better use of your time than yet another Law and Order marathon.
Shameless. Most of the time, when US networks remake British shows, the result is a disaster that alienates fans on both continents. But occasionally, the result is a show that is somehow better and more compelling than the original. This is the case with Shameless, the Showtime series that showcases the up and downs of the Gallagher family, warts and all. Led by the alcoholic, thieving Frank (William H. Macy), the Gallaghers do whatever they need to to survive life on the Southside of Chicago. High school dropout Fiona (Emmy Rossum) works odd jobs to care for her siblings, Lip (Jeremy Allen White) uses his intellect to scheme his way out f responsibility and into some money, Ian (Cameron Monaghan) is closeted and carrying on an affair with his married boss, Debbie (Emma Kenney) is trying to navigate middle school and reconcile her father and her sister, and Carl (Ethan Kutkosky) keeps setting fire to everything. It won't take much for you to be drawn into the Gallaghers' struggles, and after the first season, you too will begin bemoaning the injustice of Rossum's lack of Emmy nominations. And if you catch up now, you'll be ready to watch the fourth season when it premieres in January.
Trophy Wife. With a title that terrible, it's no wonder you put this ABC sitcom out of your head, but it has turned out to be one of the best new shows on television. Malin Ackerman stars as Kate, a former party girl who fell in love with and married and older man (Bradley Whitford), and now must balance her new role as a stepmother, his two ex-wives and her old, still-partying friends. The show is surprisingly accepting, and is more about a blended family learning to love all of its members than drawing humor from its fish-out-of-water premise. But let's be real, here: the real reason to keep watching is Bert, who, played by Albert Tsai, is arguably one of the mot consistently funny characters on television right now. The show's still in its first season, so there's not too much for you to catch on before it returns from hiatus in January; what better way to bond with your own family than by watching this hilariously dysfunctional one try and balance it all?
The Hour. Part espionage thriller, part behind-the-scenes look at the makings of television and entirely brilliant, The Hour is probably the best show you've never seen. The British drama focuses on Bel Rowley (Romola Garai), the producer tasked with getting The Hour, the BBC's first nightly news program off the ground in the 1950s. She's joined by her good friend, Freddie Lyon (Ben Whishaw), who s more interested in integrity and chasing the story than he is with catering to the network bosses, Lix Storm (Anna Chancellor), the worldly foreign correspondent who acts as Bel's mentor, and Hector Madden (Dominic West), the program's cocky new anchor. The acting is incredible, the writing is exquisite, and the stories are exciting and compelling, and once you've started The Hour, you'll understand just why it's "the hour you can't miss". Although it's no longer airing, having been cancelled after its second season ended on a cliff-hanger, but it's easy enough to find online,a nd is sure to be the perfect way to spend a few hours of your time.
BBC
The Ones With The Hardcore FanbasesSometimes, a television show connects so strongly with a particular audience that its fans become more than just causal viewers; instead, they feel the need to talk about their favorite show whenever they get the chance, constantly recommending that you watch it, and refusing to take no for answer. Well, sometimes, those intense fans are right, and the shows they love are actually really good, even if their fanaticism may put you off. Here are the recommendations you should be taking seriously.
Orphan Black. This is probably the millionth time someone has recommended that you give Orphan Black a shot, but that's because it really is worth a watch. Starring Tatiana Maslany as seven different and distinct characters, the show is probably best described as a sci-fi mystery as well as being one of the most addicting shows currently on television. The plot follows Sarah Manning, an English grifter who watches a woman - who looks just like her - commit suicide by jumping in front of a train. After Sarah decides to adopt the dead woman's identity, she is thrown into a major conspiracy that will force her to question everything she thought she knew about herself. his show definitely lives up to all of its hype, and once you watch it, you too will find yourself with a brand new favorite actress.
Sleepy Hollow. When Sleepy Hollow was first announced this fall, nobody thought it would turn out to be a decent show. And sure, it might be a lot more ridiculous and campy than many of the shows on this list, but if you're looking for a fun, entertaining way to spend some time this holiday, then this is the show for you. The off-the-wall plot, which centers around Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison), who has been sent forward in time 200 years to modern-day Sleepy Hollow, New York, where he must team up with Detective Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) to stop the impending apocalypse, is balanced by compelling, engaging performances. It's got the perfect combination of self-awareness, goofy adventures, supernatural spookiness and well-rounded characters to make it perfect holiday comfort viewing.
Bob's Burgers. You may have noticed us recommend this show before, but we strongly believe this little show about the weirdest, funniest, most accepting family on television is one everyone should watch. Every episode is hilarious, well-acted and original, and it's rare to see a family on television who are so loving and accepting of one another, from Linda's inventive songs to Louise's appetite for chaos and destruction to Tina's hormonal awkwardness to Gene... well, being Gene. Just trust us on this one, and give it a try. You won't regret it.
The One You Gave Up On That Got Better
The Mindy Project. There's no denying that the first season of The Mindy Project was fraught with issues. However, when it returned for a second season this fall, it brought with it sharper jokes, better paced episodes, more character development, and a cast overhaul, all of which resulted in it being a much stronger show than it was before. Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) is just as much of a mess as she was before, but she has wittier one-liners, and she has settled in to a much more comfortable rapport with her co-workers, who include a newly-added Adam Pally as the frat bro doctor Peter Prentiss. If you liked or were indifferent to the show before, the holidays are a perfect time to give the new episodes a chance, because you just might find that the show you gave up on has gotten better when you weren't watching.
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Lions Gate via Everett Collection
When we last left our heroes, they had conquered all opponents in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, returned home to their newly refurbished living quarters in District 12, and fallen haplessly to the cannibalism of PTSD. And now we're back! Hitching our wagons once again to laconic Katniss Everdeen and her sweet-natured, just-for-the-camera boyfriend Peeta Mellark as they gear up for a second go at the Capitol's killing fields.
But hold your horses — there's a good hour and a half before we step back into the arena. However, the time spent with Katniss and Peeta before the announcement that they'll be competing again for the ceremonial Quarter Quell does not drag. In fact, it's got some of the film franchise's most interesting commentary about celebrity, reality television, and the media so far, well outweighing the merit of The Hunger Games' satire on the subject matter by having Katniss struggle with her responsibilities as Panem's idol. Does she abide by the command of status quo, delighting in the public's applause for her and keeping them complacently saturated with her smiles and curtsies? Or does Katniss hold three fingers high in opposition to the machine into which she has been thrown? It's a quarrel that the real Jennifer Lawrence would handle with a castigation of the media and a joke about sandwiches, or something... but her stakes are, admittedly, much lower. Harvey Weinstein isn't threatening to kill her secret boyfriend.
Through this chapter, Katniss also grapples with a more personal warfare: her devotion to Gale (despite her inability to commit to the idea of love) and her family, her complicated, moralistic affection for Peeta, her remorse over losing Rue, and her agonizing desire to flee the eye of the public and the Capitol. Oftentimes, Katniss' depression and guilty conscience transcends the bounds of sappy. Her soap opera scenes with a soot-covered Gale really push the limits, saved if only by the undeniable grace and charisma of star Lawrence at every step along the way of this film. So it's sappy, but never too sappy.
In fact, Catching Fire is a masterpiece of pushing limits as far as they'll extend before the point of diminishing returns. Director Francis Lawrence maintains an ambiance that lends to emotional investment but never imposes too much realism as to drip into territories of grit. All of Catching Fire lives in a dreamlike state, a stark contrast to Hunger Games' guttural, grimacing quality that robbed it of the life force Suzanne Collins pumped into her first novel.
Once we get to the thunderdome, our engines are effectively revved for the "fun part." Katniss, Peeta, and their array of allies and enemies traverse a nightmare course that seems perfectly suited for a videogame spin-off. At this point, we've spent just enough time with the secondary characters to grow a bit fond of them — deliberately obnoxious Finnick, jarringly provocative Johanna, offbeat geeks Beedee and Wiress — but not quite enough to dissolve the mystery surrounding any of them or their true intentions (which become more and more enigmatic as the film progresses). We only need adhere to Katniss and Peeta once tossed in the pit of doom that is the 75th Hunger Games arena, but finding real characters in the other tributes makes for a far more fun round of extreme manhunt.
But Catching Fire doesn't vie for anything particularly grand. It entertains and engages, having fun with and anchoring weight to its characters and circumstances, but stays within the expected confines of what a Hunger Games movie can be. It's a good one, but without shooting for succinctly interesting or surprising work with Katniss and her relationships or taking a stab at anything but the obvious in terms of sending up the militant tyrannical autocracy, it never even closes in on the possibility of being a great one.
3.5/5
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Brian To/WENN
In addition to releasing their own explicit videos and having parents who are already famous, celebrities have become notorious for their effortless, immaculate good looks. But in recent decades, the public has discovered that they aren’t necessarily an elite group of naturally beautiful people, more like surgically altered attention whores. Typically, when we hear about plastic surgery, we picture the extreme cases like Pamela Anderson opting to carry the equivalent of a small child on her chest; or Joan Rivers, whose face is now pulled back so far that she has officially changed ethnicities. So you can imagine our surprise when our friend, Lisa Kudrow, recently admitted to the Saturday Evening Post that she got a nose job at the age of 16.
“I went from, in my mind, hideous to not hideous,” Kudrow told Lawrence Grobel. She described the surgery as “life-altering,” and explained further: “I did it the summer before going to a new high school. So there were plenty of people who wouldn't know how hideous I looked before. That was a good, good, good change.”
Undergoing a nose job before reaching the legal age to vote seems to be the antithesis of the character who Kudrow is most well known for playing, the formerly homeless hippie Phoebe Buffay. But it’s clear that she isn’t the only celebrity who's used rhinoplasty as a catalyst to a career. Throughout the years, alleged before-and-after photos have surfaced of other celebrities that raise some serious questions about the validity of Hollywood's nasal passages. Ryan Gosling, Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston and Tyra Banks are a few celebrities who are often praised for their beauty. And yet after seeing these photos, it’s hard not to picture all of them crying to their parents about their insecurities as snot dripped from their bulbous, average people noses.
There’s one photo, however, that really causes us to wonder how long this has all been going on:
Getty Images / WENN
Before becoming Marilyn Monroe, it’s rumored that Norma Jeane Mortenson underwent rhinoplasty, a chin implant, had her teeth straightened and her hairline raised. Plastic surgery was relatively new in the late 1940s, so her transformation went surprisingly under the radar at the time.
Whether it’s Lisa Kudrow getting a nose job at 16, Heidi Montag having ten surgeries in one day, or Marilyn Monroe pioneering what we’ve come to know as general cosmetic procedures, we know that it’s pretty common for drastic measures to be taken for beauty under the scrutiny of the public eye. Perhaps as a society, one day we can change our expectations of what celebrities look like, judge them at their craft and allow them the freedom be as ugly as everybody else. But, we probably shouldn’t.
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